Helichrysum plant named ‘Amber Cluster’

ABSTRACT

A new  Helichrysum  plant particularly distinguished by its amber flower buds and by its good tolerance to powdery mildews, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Helichrysum×amorginum.

Variety denomination: ‘Amber Cluster’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Helichrysum, botanically known as Helichrysum×amorginum and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Amber Cluster’. The new cultivar originated from an open pollination made in Derby, Chaddesden, United Kingdom in Spring 1999. The female parent was the Helichrysum plant ‘Ruby Cluster’ (unpatented) while the male parent was one of a range of Helichrysum amorginum hybrids.

In Summer 2001 a single plant was selected for its amber flower buds. This selection was asexually propagated by vegetative cuttings and further evaluated in Derby, Chaddesden, United Kingdom to confirm the uniformity and stability of its characteristics. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Derby, Chaddesden, and Bressingham, United Kingdom.

-   -   1. Amber flower buds; and     -   2. Good tolerance to powdery mildews.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Helichrysum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show overall plant habit including foliage and flower buds; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of one-year-old plants.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including foliage and flower buds.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a cluster of flower buds.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Amber Cluster’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Bressingham, United Kingdom. The plant history was taken on one-year-old plants grown outdoors in a 3-liter container; no growth retardants were used. The range of daytime temperatures was 8° C. to 30° C. while the range of nighttime temperatures was 3° C. to 15° C. Color readings were taken outdoors under natural light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (RHS) (2001 edition).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.         -   Botanical.—Helichrysum×amorginum.         -   Common name.—Strawflower, Everlasting flower. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Helichrysum ‘Ruby Cluster’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—An unnamed individual plant of Helichrysum             amorginum (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Perennial in USDA zones 8 to 10, annual in colder             zones.         -   Form.—Spreading.         -   Height (from top of soil, excluding flowers).—20.0 cm to             26.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—20.0 cm to 26.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Cuttings.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—15 days in summer.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—70 days in summer.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—215 days.         -   Root description.—Thin, fibrous, dense, freely branching,             RHS 161B (Greyed-yellow) in color.         -   Keeping quality.—Flower buds, if cut when in full color,             will retain this color when dried; on the plant the flowers             retain their color for about 25 days before starting to             change color.         -   Temperature tolerance.—In the United Kingdom, the lowest             temperature was −5° C. and the highest temperature was 30°             C. -   Branches or stems:     -   -   Type (lateral, rosette, etc.).—Rosette of stems arising from             a woody center.         -   Quantity per plant.—Many, dense.         -   Length.—20.0 cm to 26.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.0 cm.         -   Aspect.—Pendulous to upright.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Soft and smooth, the effect given by the dense             pubescence.         -   Pubescense.—Dense, pannose.         -   Color.—Upper: RHS 189B (Greyed-green) and RHS 189C             (Greyed-green) Lower: RHS 189C (Greyed-green). -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper: RHS 189B (Greyed-green) and RHS             189C (Greyed-green). Lower: RHS 189C (Greyed-green). Mature             leaf: Upper surface: RHS 189B (Greyed-green). Lower surface:             RHS 189C (Greyed-green).         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Pubescent.         -   Length.—6.0 cm to 8.0 cm.         -   Width.—1.5 cm.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Acuminate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation pattern.—Leaf pubescence covers both sides of leaf,             no venation observed.         -   Pubescence coverage of the leaf (both sides).—Densely covers             the leaf.         -   Pubescence color (both surfaces).—RHS 189D (Greyed-green).         -   Petiole.—Absent, amplexicaul. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Color.—Between RHS 24A (Orange) and RHS 24C (Orange) with a             light flush at the tips of RHS 25A (Orange).         -   Length or Height.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Orbicular.         -   Texture.—Paper-like. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—March to May.         -   Form.—Compound umbel.         -   Quantity of inflorescences on the plant.—30 to 50.         -   Lastingness of inflorescences on the plant.—Long lasting,             can be dried and will retain color as is when cut.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Diameter.—5.0 cm for entire umbel, 1.0 cm for single             inflorescence.         -   Depth (height).—4.0 cm for entire umbel, 1.0 cm for single             inflorescence.         -   Disc diameter.—0.05 cm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Receptacle height.—0.5 cm. -   Involucral bracts or ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Papery, smooth.         -   Aspect.—Curved, upright.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Length.—0.4 cm.         -   Width.—0.1 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Papery.         -   Orientation or aspect.—Facing upward.         -   Number per inflorescence.—25 to 45.         -   Color (when opening).—Upper surface: RHS 25A (Orange)             spreading down from tip to RHS 24C (Orange). Lower surface:             RHS 24C (Orange).         -   Color (when fully opened).—Upper surface: RHS 24A (Orange)             spreading down to RHS 24D (Orange). Lower surface: RHS 24C             (Orange). Fading to RHS 4A (Yellow) towards end of flowering             period (both surfaces). -   Disc florets:     -   -   Arrangement.—Clustered upright.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—0.1 cm.         -   Width.—0.05 cm.         -   Diameter of disc.—0.4 cm.         -   Number or quantity per inflorescence.—80 to 100.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin—Entire.         -   Color.—Immature: RHS 150B (Yellow-green) Mature: RHS 21A             (Yellow-orange) Apex: RHS 21A (Yellow-orange) Mid-section:             RHS 21C (Yellow-orange) Base: RHS 150D (Yellow-green). -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—10 to 15.         -   Length.—0.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Soft.         -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS189C (Greyed-green). -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Soft.         -   Color.—RHS 189C (Greyed-green). -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 189D (Greyed-green). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Only on disc florets. Filaments: Length: 0.2 cm.             Diameter: 0.005 cm. Color: RHS 21A (Yellow-orange). Anthers:             Shape: Cylindrical. Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.005 cm.             Color: RHS 21A (Yellow-orange). Pollen: Amount: Sparse.             Color: RHS 20D (Yellow-orange).         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil length: 0.2 cm. Stigma: Shape: Simple.             Length: 0.005 cm. Color: RHS 21A (Yellow-orange). Style:             Length: 0.15 cm. Color: RHS 150D (Yellow-green). Ovary             color: RHS 150D (Yellow-green). -   Seeds:     -   -   Color.—RHS 173D (Greyed-orange).         -   Shape.—Oval, slightly compressed, hairless.         -   Length: 0.1 cm.         -   Width: 0.1 cm.         -   Quantity.—800 to 2,000, seed setting is variable from year             to year. -   Disease and insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery mildews; no     pest problems observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Amber Cluster’ differs from the female parent ‘Ruby Cluster’ (unpatented) in that ‘Amber Cluster’ has amber flower buds which fade to pale yellow with age while ‘Ruby Cluster’ has deep ruby-red flower buds which fade to pale pink and become almost white with age.

‘Amber Cluster’ differs from the possible male parent, one of a range of Helichrysum amorginum hybrids, in that ‘Amber Cluster’ has amber flower buds while the hybrids have yellow flower buds. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Helichrysum plant as shown and described herein. 